Rochdale

Rochdale's population grew between the last two censuses. Data from the census also show there were changes in housing tenure, ethnicity and marriage.

The population passed 210,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Rochdale increased by 3.1%, from about 205,000 to 212,000.

The addition of about 6,300 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Rochdale was home to, on average, 9.6 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Rochdale

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Rochdale increased by two years, from 36 to 38 years.

This multi-cultural area had a slightly lower average age than the North West and remained slightly younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of about 4,000 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 4,000.

About 10% of people in Rochdale are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Rochdale by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Rochdale residents that were unemployed increased from 3.9% to 5.9% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under one in two (50%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 51% in 2001. The percentage of Rochdale residents that were self-employed increased from 7.0% to 7.9%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 3.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Rochdale increased by 2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Rochdale, the North West and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Rochdale

The percentage of Rochdale residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.6% to 4.6% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 16 (6.4%) reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 7.1% in 2001. The percentage of Rochdale residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 89%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 3.7% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Rochdale that rented privately increased from 6.5% to 13% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under one in four (23%) households lived in social housing, compared with 25% in 2001. The percentage of Rochdale households that owned their home decreased from 66% to 62%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Rochdale increased by 6.7 percentage points

Percentage of households in Rochdale, the North West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Rochdale

The number of people in Rochdale from the White ethnic groups decreased from just over 180,000 in 2001 to just over 170,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 89% to 82% of the local population.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across the North West (from 94% to 90%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Rochdale from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 21,000 in 2001 to about 32,000 in 2011 (from 10% to 15%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just over 1,900 to about 3,600 (from 0.9% to 1.7%).

Just under 2,800 people (0.3%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just over 650 in 2001 (1.3%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Rochdale decreased by 6.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Rochdale by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Rochdale

The percentage of single people in Rochdale increased from 29% to 35% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 4 in 10 (44%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 50% in 2001. The percentage of adults in Rochdale that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 12% to 13%.

The proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 30% in 2001 to 36% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 30% to 35%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Rochdale

The number of people in Rochdale that described themselves as Muslim increased from about 19,000 in 2001 to about 29,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 9.4% to 14% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the North West (from 3.0% to 5.1%) and the average across England (from 3.2% to 5.2%).

The number of people in Rochdale that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 150,000 in 2001 to about 130,000 in 2011 (from 72% to 61%). The number of people who described themselves as having no religion increased from about 22,000 to just over 40,000 (from 11% to 19%).

About 12,000 people (7.1%) did not state their religion, down from about 15,000 in 2001 (5.8%).

The population who identified as Muslim in Rochdale increased by 4.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Rochdale by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Rochdale residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 11% to 7.6% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (78%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 66% in 2001. The percentage of Rochdale residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23% to 15%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Rochdale decreased by 3.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Rochdale, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More single parents

The percentage of households in Rochdale, which comprised a single parent, increased from 12% to 13% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (31%) households had a married couple, compared with 36% in 2001. The percentage of households in Rochdale, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 9.2% to 11%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 12% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 11%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was higher than across the North West

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Rochdale with children decreased from 34% to 32% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (58%) households had no children, compared with 56% in 2001. The percentage of households in Rochdale with only adult children living with their parents remained close to 10%.

The proportion of households with children fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 30% in 2001 to 29% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 30% to 29%.

The proportion of households with children was higher than across the North West

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Rochdale working less than 16 hours increased from 1.5% to 2.6% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 1 in 13 (7.5%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 10% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 1.7% in 2001 to 3.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Rochdale increased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Rochdale, the North West and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Rochdale residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.3% to 1.7% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.9%) reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 1.3% in 2001 to 1.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Rochdale remained close to 1.7%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Rochdale by care, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links